You really don't waste too much fabric with this machine. You scan the fabric in the machine and that allows you to put your designs as close as you want, you have to leave a little room for cutting the same as other cutting methods. There is less mess than the accuquilt, I have both. Because of the scanning feature you can put fabric scraps of different color/designs on the mat and scan it in and then position you designs on which fabric you want and the cutting is fast. Lots of great features with this one.